Live Casino Bonuses
When it comes to online gambling, one of the most alluring elements for both new and existing players it the possibility of casino bonuses. Giving an edge to anyone either looking to sign-up and deposit at a site or just tantalising enough to have existing players re-deposit, it can be a chance for casinos to tempt someone in that they otherwise wouldn’t have won over. In this article, we will focus particularly on live casino bonuses which you can use to play live game shows such as Crazy Time, but include a few other well-known alternatives that have been offered by online gambling sites for many years. Before we go to deep into the different criteria and what these bonuses might entail, let’s have a glance at the many different versions you might have come across before.
Welcome Bonuses
Arguably the most common of all the casino bonuses you may have seen, welcome bonuses are the crucial in attracting new players and setting sites apart from each other. These can come in the form of free spins, deposit matches and even tournament entries. When it comes to the live casino bonuses, you’ll typically find matched deposits as the primary offering due to the fact that most of these live games are run by third-party providers and the RTP is not controlled by the casino itself.
Deposit Bonuses
When you sign up and deposit at a gambling site, matched bonuses can ensure you stick around to play longer and even give you a chance to try more games than you would have done otherwise. This involves adding an additional sum, or percentage, on to your deposit and tying it into a wagering requirement that you must meet before you can withdraw. For example, if you deposited £50, a 100% match would mean you actually play with £100, but the bonus element would be subject to a playthrough requirement before you are able to withdraw some of your winnings, if lady luck had been on your side.
No Deposit Bonuses
Similarly themed to deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses are just what they say, free money without the need for any deposit to be made. Typically this would be subject to registration and email confirmation, and in the rare form that these are granted as a live casino bonus, they can allow users to try out new games or different live dealer variations of popular games like roulette or blackjack.
Free Spins
Another form of free casino bonus, these can be granted with/without a deposit having been made but are generally low-value spin amounts and subject to the same wagering requirements you would expect from any free money bonus. While these are almost non-existent at live casino sites, they are a fan-favourite at most standard online casinos on the web.
Loyalty and VIP Programs
Like we said at the beginning, existing players are certainly not forgotten when it comes to casinos offering bonuses. Often used to tempt inactive players back into action, or to reward regular customers to try out new games and keep playing, loyalty rewards and VIP programs that offer cashback on wagering, deposit bonuses and even the chance to enter exclusive tournaments can be a phenomenal way of keeping people engaged once the ‘new casino’ charm has worn off.
Top 3 Live Casino Welcome Bonuses
The Fine Print of Bonuses – Casino Wagering Requirements
Having explored the different types of bonuses on offer, it’s important to remember that almost all of them come with a wagering requirement, or playthrough amount, that a player must meet before they can cash out. These are becoming more notably advertised as gambling commissions and country regulations crack down on problem gambling and other regrettable side effects. So just what are wagering requirements and what do they look like?
The concept of wagering requirements is simple, when a bonus sum is given to you or once you have completed a free spins bonus and won a particular amount, the value of your winnings needs to be bet and cycled through a particular number of times before it converts to real money, or balances that can be withdrawn. These are typically between 10x and 50x, depending on the type of bonus granted and the maximum withdrawable amount. For example, if you have a £100 bonus and it is subject to a 35x playthrough requirement, you would need to turnover £3,500 before you could withdraw any of these winnings.
These casino bonuses however, can sometimes be a slightly bigger problem. Not only are you more likely to lose than win as you playthrough the balances, many of them are attached to a maximum withdrawable amount or a maximum bet amount per spin/deal. It’s important that if you are looking to accept a bonus, that you read the wagering requirements or terms and conditions to fully understand what limitations may affect your chances. For example, with a live casino bonus, many casinos will limit which games can contribute to your playthrough, meaning that popular games like roulette and blackjack may not be accepted, whereas game shows which carry a lower RTP percentage are normally always approved.
So just what are the different live casino bonus conditions that you should familiarise yourself with:
Game Limitations – Not all games may be eligible to count towards your bonus playthrough, so be sure to see which are before you start betting.
Expiry Dates – On occasion, some casinos will set an expiry date for when you must meet playthrough requirements, so ensure you check the terms before you accept.
Maximum Bet Amount – Many bonuses, especially live casino bonuses, will limit how much you bet on any given game, however this is just to stop people making huge bets to try and get through the bonus too quickly.
Maximum Wins – Many casinos state you are only allowed to withdraw an aforementioned sum on your bonus, especially with no deposit and free spin options.
Jackpot Limitations – Almost all free casino bonuses exclude you from winning a slot or casino jackpot, so please do double-check the terms when you accept any bonus.
Country Limitations – While most countries are flexible on what you can win, some countries will not have variations of games (e.g. slots) on their site, so playthrough requirements are tied to games that are eligible.
What does the future hold for Live Casino Bonuses?
As live casino games get more and more exciting, live casino bouses will surely become increasingly appealing to players. With new studios entering the landscape and new games being released almost weekly, you should expect to see more tempting bonus offers hitting the market soon. Whatever the future holds, as more casinos open up and more sites vie for an already ‘busy’ market, keep an eye out for more live casino bonuses and additional sites to test new games on.